Christina Sarich
Prison Planet.com
September 18, 2013
If you switched to diet soda hoping to avoid refined sugar, or any other fizzy drink or aspartame-sweetened food, you are now guzzling down a product created by one of the GM Giants – Monsanto. Many scientists are calling for further study of a genetically modified bacteria which is used to create aspartame [1], but the evidence is already quite glaring, that the stuff is no good.
It has been a secret until very recently – one that Monsanto, clearly didn’t want to get out – that one of the most utilized sweeteners in our food chain is genetically modified. Monsanto insists that it is completely safe; however, just because there was no modified DNA in the final product. Though this doesn’t mean that it can’t harm our bodies. A writer with The Independent says [2], “We have two strains of bacteria – one is traditionally modified and one is genetically modified,” said one Monsanto source. “It’s got a modified enzyme. It has one amino acid different.”
Interestingly, aspartame is made using genetically modified bacteria [3] in the US, but according to a Monsanto source, the UK market does not have to eat genetically modified bacteria poop. Some consumer groups warn; however, that some low-calorie foods may still contain the GMO aspartame, even overseas. GM aspartame may cause [4] blindness, cancer, and brain tumors.
Aspartame is made by combining phenylalanine, a substance that is produced naturally by bacteria with another amino acid, that has not been genetically altered.
However, Monsanto has genetically changed the bacteria to create more phenylalanine [5]. When this amino acid chain breaks down, it breaks down into three constituents, including methanol [6] – which has been linked to autism, preterm delivery, and more. This is then broken down in the body to formic acid (which when handled in a lab you have to wear goggles and gloves) and formaldehyde (something used to clean drains and embalm dead bodies, and a known carcinogen). It also breaks down into a chemical called DKP, which can cause brain tumors – this according to a study published on the US Food and Drug Administration’s [7] (FDA) site about aspartame.
Even the National Cancer Institute [8] will tell you that formaldehyde is a cancer risk. From their site:
“Formaldehyde has been classified as a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.”
It seems Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Monsanto are doing a great job with adding toxic ingredients to our beverages.
This post originally appeared at Natural Society [9]